Hubst



Rf W- WHIT-EHURST. LADDER.

No. 476,179. Patented May 31, 1892.

llnTTnn STnTns PATENT Orrrcn.

ROBERT XV. VHITEHURST, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOMCD. L. VRENN, OF SAME PLACE.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 476,179, dated May 3l,1892.

Application tiled January 9, 1892. Serial No. 417,446. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT YV. VHITE- HURST, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State 5 ofVirginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvcmen ts in Ladders,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an extension stepladder which is convertibleinto a sectional 1o long ladder. As a step-ladder it is speciallyadapted for fruit-gathering and like uses and as a sectional long laddermay be employed as an ordinary ladder for various purposes.

The object is to provide a simple construction which can be readilychanged from one adjustment to another and will comprise a stablestructure in either form.

Tov this end the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and combizo nations of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

The invention is illustrated in the accomy panying drawings, in which-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the ladder as an extensionstep-ladder. Fig. 2 shows the ladder converted into a sectional longladder. Fig. 3 shows a section through two rounds of the ladder,illustrating the inanner of supporting a basket rest or shelf Fig.

3o 4, a detail of the automatic catch for holding the two hingedsections together when the ladder is extended to form a sectional longladder.

The letter A designates the step-section of 3 5 the ladder, and Banother section of the same width hinged to the back thereof and havingrounds@ like any ladder-section. This section B is hinged to the sectionA by means of metal straps b, secured rigidly to the sides of 4o thelatter and pivotally to the sides of the section B, the upper ends ofwhich are rounded, as shownat c. The side bars of the section A projectabove the hinges and have notches b in their upper ends and a round c',connecting them.

When the ladder is used as a step-ladder, the section B serves as theprop and is held in position by hooks e on the section A, which engagestaples e ou the hinged sectionB. An

extension C, having one round CZ with project- 5o ing ends and notchesin the ends of its side bars, is fitted to the upwardly-projectingportions of the step-section A by causing the notches and rounds toengage in the usual way. The opposite end of the extension-piece 5 5 isconstructed similarly to its lower end, so that another section maybeconnected, if desired. Arranged in this way the ladder is peculiarlyadapted for fruit-gathering and like useswhere the upper end has no restto lean 6o against and it is desired to reach beyond the base of theladder and farther than possible with the ordinary step-ladder.

lVhen a long ladder without prop is desired, the hooks e are releasedand the section B turned on its pivotsf or opened outward until it fitsagainst the section A and forms a continuation thereof, as shown in Fig.2, the rounded ends c permitting this complete reversal of the prop. Thelatter is held in its. 7o vertical position against the section A bylatches g, which are pivoted to the said section A and rest on stop-pinsh, whereby they are held in asubstantially horizontal position when theladder is up. These latches have catches g on their outer ends withbeveled outer faces e'. When the section B is turned up against thesection A, pins j or staples c on said section B strike the beveledsurfaces of the catches g and raise the latches, whose 8o catches dropbehind the said pins j, and thus hold up the section B. When the ladderis used as a step-ladder, the latches g may be thrown back on theirpivots, so as not to project in the way. lt will be observed that bythis construction the locking of the sections A and B together isautomatic. By means of the above construction the pins j or staples eare engaged by the hooks c or g, respectively, and serve to hold thesection B whether 9o the device is used as a step-ladder or as anextension-ladder.

'Notches 7o are provided in the outerends of the side bars of the hingedsection B to adapt it for receiving the extension C, which is nar 95rower than either of the sections A and B and tits between theirsidepieces, respectively, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

It will be seen my construction permits the ladder to be Very readilychanged from one form to another.

A detachable and adjustable shelf D is provided for use in connectionwith this ladder and is supported on two arms Z, secured to its underside and bent to form long extensions Z. This shelf is adjusted byresting the bends o in the arms over one round m of the ladder, with theends ot' the extension Z behind the round m next below, when the shelfwill be firmly held and braced. Thelower ends Z2 of said extension arecurved, as shown, to take partly under the round m', so as to preventthe arms from sliding upward and becoming free ot the said round m. Itis obvious that this shelf may be iiXed at any part of the ladder inthis way. It may be used as a rest fora fruit-basket or a pail or forany other similar purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

In a ladder, the combination, with two sections of the same width, eachhaving its side pieces extended beyond the last rung and notched at oneend, one of which sections is shorter than the other one and is hingedto the longer one near the upper end thereof, whereby it may be used asa prop or an extension for the longer section, the notched ends of eachof said sections being' adapted to receive the notched ends of anarrower section, of two hooks upon the longersection, one above and onebelow the hinge, and locking devices upon the shorter section, adaptedto be engaged, respectively, by the hooks when said section is in eitherof its two positions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ROBERT' W. WHITEHURST. Witnesses:

GEO. W. DEY, WALTER H. DEY.

